Abstract: A VoIP-based conferencing system readily handles different protocols, load balance media resources and deals with fail-over situations. The VOIP conferencing system has a gateway coupled to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). A Voice Server Director (VSD) is coupled to the gateway and performs the control function of the conferencing system. The VSD has a back-to-back user agent. The VSD controls a media server, which mixes the audio (signals), and the media server receives the data portion of a conference call from the gateway. The media server is coupled to a bridge that controls an on-going conference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing and/or producing an online event. One embodiment is a computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing an online event. One such computer program comprises: logic configured to establish an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers; logic configured to present the audio conference to the plurality of listen-only viewers via a viewer user interface; and logic configured to present an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control the viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event.

Abstract: A method for providing a cue when a nonparticipant joins a conference includes identifying received data indicating that a particular nonparticipant has joined the conference, searching a cue store for information associated with the particular nonparticipant, and publishing a cue responsive to the information associated with the nonparticipant. A conferencing system includes client devices with respective display devices, a conference host computer coupled to the client devices via one or more networks, the conference host computer operating a web server, and a cue store coupled to the host computer. The cue store includes at least one cue element identified by a nonparticipant privileged to join the conference, the cue element including information designated for publication by the web server to one or more client devices connected to the conference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for customizing participant information in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for customizing display of participant information in an online conference. The method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an online conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a participant in the online conference; the conferencing system presenting a conference user interface to the client devices, the conference user interface displaying an interactive participant object identifying each of the participants; and during the online conference, one of the participants customizing presentation of at least one of the interactive participant objects via the conference user interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transferring a conference session with a conferencing system from a first client device to a second client device. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing a first conference session for an online conference with a first client device via a communication network; presenting a conference interface via a graphical user interface to the first client device, the conference interface displaying a participant object corresponding to a participant identifier associated with a first participant operating the first client device; the participant initiating a transfer request comprising the participant identifier; sending the transfer request to a second client device; the second client device acknowledging the transfer request; and the second client device establishing a second conference session with the conferencing system using the participant identifier.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing question submissions in an online event produced by an event producer. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers; presenting an event production user interface to an event producer and a viewer user interface to the listen-only viewers, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to control the viewer user interface during the online event; receiving, via the viewer user interface, a text question submitted by one of the listen-only viewers for presentation to one or more speakers; and the event producer selecting the text question, via the event production user interface, for live audio presentation by the listen-only viewer via the audio conference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for transitioning from a phone-only mode to a web conference mode. One embodiment is a method for participating in an audio conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants via a communication network, at least one of the participants participating in the audio conference in a phone-only mode; and a server in communication with the conferencing system presenting to the phone-only participant, via a user interface on a computing device, a phone-only control menu for enabling the phone-only participant to selectively transition from the phone-only mode to a web conferencing mode.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a conference interface includes receiving a request indicating that a notification of an event associated with the conference interface is desired, determining occurrence of the event, sending the notice to a computing device that initiated the request, receiving an out-of-conference communication from the computing device and in response thereto, modifying a characteristic of the conference interface. A system includes computing devices coupled to a conferencing platform via one or more networks. The conference platform operates a web server that publishes a graphical user interface associated with an identified subscriber. A computing device associated with the identified subscriber is provided an application that enables the computing device to communicate a request for notification of an event in their conference interface without being present in the conference interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing an integrated public/private online conference. One embodiment is computer program embodied in a computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing an online conference. One such computer program comprises: logic configured to establish an audio conference between a plurality of participants operating corresponding computing devices connected via a communication network; logic configured to designate at least one of the participants as a private participant that participates in the audio conference in a private mode and a remaining portion of the participants that participant in the audio conference in a public mode; and logic configured to present the audio conference to the public participants via a public conference interface that visually identifies only the public participants.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting an event production user interface to an event producer, the event production user interface configured to enable the event producer to selectively control a viewer user interface presented to the listen-only viewers during the online event; obtaining analytics data associated with the online event; and during the online event, providing a production recommendation to the event producer in the event production user interface based on the analytics data.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for joining an online conference already in progress. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting to the participants via a graphical user interface the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and the content; during the audio conference, receiving from a new participant a request to join the audio conference already in progress; and in response to the request to join the audio conference, playing back the synchronized audio conference and the content presented in the conference interface to the new participant beginning from a recording start location.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for managing multiple participants at the same location in an online conference. One embodiment is a method for providing an online conference comprising: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, each client device associated with a first participant; the conferencing system determining at least one second participant co-located with one of the first participants and the corresponding client device; and the conferencing system presenting, to each of the client devices, the audio conference and a conference user interface, the conference user interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the first and second participants.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for producing an online event. One embodiment is a method comprising: creating a production script for an online event comprising an audio conference between one or more speakers and a plurality of listen-only viewers, the production script comprising a series of production prompts associated with a production timeline; a server presenting an event production user interface to an event producer and a viewer user interface to the listen-only viewers, the event production user interface configured to selectively control the viewer user interface during the online event; and presenting, in the event production user interface, the production prompts in accordance with the production timeline during the online event.

Abstract: A conferencing system that can be configured by a host, and then reconfigured on the fly, in real time. The host initially provides configuration information to the system to define the initial operation of the conference call. The host can then update this information during the conference call to reconfigure the conference call. For instance, the information may include a question set. The initial question set is presented to participants as they enter the conference call. When the configuration information is changed by providing a new question, the new question is then presented to the participants in the conference call.